IoT Power Management via Server-Based Battery Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

IoT devices face challenges in estimating remaining battery life and implementing efficient power management due to limited processing power and low power consumption, making it difficult to extend battery life effectively.

Innovation Solution

A server-based dynamic power management system that estimates remaining battery life by collecting minimal information from IoT devices, stores battery usage profiles, and sends power management profiles to adjust the device's power consumption, including wake-up frequencies, functionality disabling, and voltage scaling, to extend battery life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If battery life estimation and power management are implemented on IoT devices, then power management capability is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower management capabilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex battery life estimation and power management functions from the IoT device and relocates them to a remote server. The device only needs to communicate minimal battery status information to the server, which then calculates remaining battery life and returns optimized power management profiles. This extraction resolves the contradiction by maintaining power management capability while eliminating the processing complexity burden from the resource-constrained device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the IoT device and the power management decision-making process. The server acts as a mediator that receives battery status data from the device, performs the complex calculations for remaining battery life estimation, and generates optimized power management profiles. This intermediary approach allows the device to maintain simplicity while still benefiting from advanced power management capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If more processing power is allocated to battery estimation, then estimation accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery life estimation accuracyVSAvoiddevice power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the computationally intensive battery life estimation calculations from the IoT device and performs them on a remote server with sufficient processing power. The device only transmits minimal battery status information (such as voltage, current, temperature) to the server, which then uses these data points along with stored battery usage profiles to calculate accurate remaining battery life estimates. This extraction resolves the contradiction by achieving high estimation accuracy without the device needing to allocate significant processing power or energy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Duration of action of moving object

If power management profiles are adjusted dynamically, then battery life extension is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidpower management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the server automatically monitors battery status information from the IoT device, dynamically generates optimized power management profiles based on remaining battery life calculations, and pushes these profiles to the device. The device simply applies the received profiles without needing complex decision-making logic. This self-service approach extends battery life through dynamic profile adjustment while keeping the device complexity minimal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3603224B1Dynamic power management of IoT devices
Publication Date: 2021.11.17 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP3603224B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3603224B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A method for dynamic power management of electronic devices includes determining, at a server, a remaining battery life of an electronic device, wherein the electronic device is powered by a battery and associated with a power management profile for managing power consumption at the electronic device; and based on the determined remaining battery life, provisioning an updated power management profile for the electronic device.